Billy Drummond and Freedom of Ideas, 'Valse Sinistre,' Cellar Live ****

Track of the day 'Valse Sinistre', is the Carla Bley-penned title track of the Jeremy Pelt-produced Billy Drummond album of the same name which has some glorious saxophone work from Dayna Stephens and ensemble integrity exhibited exhilaratingly …

Published: 1 Jun 2022. Updated: 22 months.

Track of the day 'Valse Sinistre', is the Carla Bley-penned title track of the Jeremy Pelt-produced Billy Drummond album of the same name which has some glorious saxophone work from Dayna Stephens and ensemble integrity exhibited exhilaratingly throughout.

The Bley composition appeared on the iconic pianist-composer's 1981 album Social Studies.

Drummer Drummond had appeared with Bley on such 2003-8 released albums as Looking for America, The Lost Chords, The Lost Chords find Paolo Fresu and Appearing Nightly.

Not since 1996 album Dubai has US-player Drummond had an album out under his own name although as a side player he has been busy in the last few years, for instance recording on dates led by Charles McPherson and appearing on the Elan Mehler-curated Kimbrough. On Valse Sinistre he has pianist Micah Thomas with him and who contributes the tune 'Never Ends'. The much-appreciated Dezron Douglas is on bass.

Among the other album tunes interestingly rarity 'Frankenstein' from 1994's Explorations by trombone icon Grachan Moncur III is also a track on this Cellar Live album, which is to be released in August.

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Sela Bar Matthew Bourne appearance previewed - a significant highlight of this month's Leeds Jazz Festival

Running until 12 June highlights at the Leeds Jazz Festival, which begins today, include: the Nishla Smith quintet; Michael Moore trio; Jasmine Myra; and most appealingly of all the heavyweight quartet of ''free'' players, saxist James Mainwaring, …

Published: 1 Jun 2022. Updated: 23 months.

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Running until 12 June highlights at the Leeds Jazz Festival, which begins today, include: the Nishla Smith quintet; Michael Moore trio; Jasmine Myra; and most appealingly of all the heavyweight quartet of ''free'' players, saxist James Mainwaring, world class pianist Matthew Bourne, top, double bassist Dave Kane and drummer Emil Karlsen. Bourne's solo album Désinances was one of the best of 2021. Leeds is spiritually home ground for Bourne who completed his doctorate at the Leeds College of Music (now called Leeds Conservatoire) and before and since has inspired the free-scene locally. His fame has spread internationally and continues to ripple futurewards exponentially. As a free improviser in some ways Bourne carries on the work of Keith Tippett through his own vivid prismatic refractions. Bourne can do fierce anger very well and you get a punkish fury and nihilistic harshness that can be quite thrilling on some of his recordings and in live performance. Bourne and Karlsen's The Embalmer was released in March.

Tickets for the 7 June Sela Bar appearance